Seventeen-year-old judo competitor Wilson Elliott said two losses at last weekend's national tournament will not deter him from keeping a positive mindset when he travels to Argentina for the Junior Pan-American Games next week.
Elliott competed in the 2018 Canada Cup over the weekend in Montreal, losing two matches – one via disqualification. However, with the biggest tournament of his young career in his sights, he will not let one tournament keep his spirits down, he said.
“I didn't prepare well, I didn't warm up well on the first day... it was just a bad day,” said Elliott.
Elliott went 0-3 during the competition in Montreal. One of his defeats was via disqualification after he disobeyed a referee's commands and kept a “power-grip” on his opponent for too long.
He said the four penalties he received during the competition were justified.
“The referee called for a stop and I didn't hear him so I went ahead with my flip,” said Elliott. “I executed it outside of the area as well so it was scored an illegal flip and I was disqualified.”
Despite the winless performance, Elliott will be travelling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the 2018 Junior Pan-Am Championships next week. He'll be the first-ever competitor from Yellowknife to represent Canada in judo at the event.
Elliott's coach Mario Deforges said the country's number-one ranked junior judo fighter will need to be ready for increasingly tough competition.
“(This is) a new process for (Elliott) right now. He's stepped up to the competition and has worked very hard to succeed and adapt to the international level,” said Deforges. “He's not used to losing so that's a new concept he has to learn but he's doing well adapting to the new level of competition.”
Elliott won the Canadian Open Junior Judo Championship in Calgary, in May. The win allowed him to clinch a birth in the Pan American Games.
Since winning a gold medal in the tournament Elliott said he has been training hard every Saturday, building his endurance with running exercises and maintaining his strength with bench-presses. However, keeping his technique sharp has been a priority, added Elliott.
“I think I have a chance,” he said. “I just have to do what I know how to when I get to Argentina.”
Elliott set out for Argentina yesterday and will begin competing on Saturday.